FLORISSANT, Mo. – SLUH junior Raymond Wingo had a special spectator at Saturday’s Class 4 District 3 track meet at McCluer High School.
Raymond’s older brother, Ronnie Wingo, was able to attend the meet and watch his little brother compete for the first time.
“This is my first time being able to see him do a sport since I’ve been in college,” Ronnie said. “I haven’t even seen him play football yet. I’m going to be excited to do that this year and get more free time and leeway.”
Ronnie signed a deal with the Atlanta Falcons following this year’s NFL draft. He earned his degree in December after finishing his running back career at the University of Arkansas with 1,089 yards and eight touchdowns on 206 carries.
“I just got back from going there last weekend doing rookie mini-camp, which is where the rookies get a feel of how it’s going to be when all the guys get there,” Ronnie said. “It’s an exciting time right now, and I’m just enjoying the process.
“I felt like when I left Fayetteville with everything I had going on there – not playing as much, the coaching change, the losing season where the expectation was to go to the national championship – I feel like it’s a fresh start, and I’m ready to get back to work.”
Ronnie got to see his brother win the 100-meter dash at districts in 10.81. Raymond did not advance in the 800-meter relay as his team finished fifth in 1:28.64, just .35 of a second behind fourth place. He also missed qualifying in the 200 when his fifth-place time of 22.32 was .04 behind fourth place.
“He’s going to be good, and he has the attitude where he wants to make his own name,” Ronnie said. “He’s going to be his own player, his own person.”
Ronnie thinks he could still get on the track and make some things happen, especially if he were given time to train properly. He won the 2009 Class 4 state 100 (10.59) and 200 (21.44).
“I miss track a lot, but I was 35 pounds lighter; I put on a lot of weight for football,” Ronnie said. “I wish I could still do it. I probably could if I were to lose some pounds.”